Perfect Your Sentences

qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvb nmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer Perfect Your Sentences 120 Grammar and Vocabulary Mistakes to Avoid tyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopas dfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzx cvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq wertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuio pasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghj klzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwerty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc vbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrty uiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdf ghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxc Last Updated: October 24, 2010 www.EnglishGrammar.org

The purpose of this book English is full of problems for a foreign learner. While some of these problem points are easy to explain, others cause difficulty even for the advanced students and learners. For example, how exactly is the present perfect tense used? What are the differences differences between big, large and great, great, between come and go? Is unless the same as if not? This eBook is a guide to questions of this kind. It addresses 120 points which regularly cause problems for the foreign learner. Rules and guidelines are given, using as little linguistic terminology as possible.

Who w ill benefit benefit from this book? This book is aimed at students who wish to improve the quality of their sentences. It is compiled for the use at school or at home.

How to use this this book? Entries are arranged alphabetically. Each entry contains an explanation of a problem, examples of correct usage and typical mistakes. Explanations are, as far as possible, given in simple everyday language.

List of Entries 1. According to 2. Across and through 3. Adjectives ending in -ly 4. Ago and before 5. All and every 6. All right and alright 7. Already and all ready Perfect Your Sentences

Page 2

8. Alternate and alternative 9. Altogether and all together 10. Any and some 11. Anyhow and somehow 12. Articles 13. Article a – correct use 14. Ask and ask for 15. At first and first 16. Avenge and revenge 17. Back and again 18. Bath and bathe 19. Beat and win 20. Because 21. Because and because of 22. Because and for 23. Begin and start 24. Beside and besides 25. Besides, except and apart from 26. Between and among 27. Between and during 28. Between and from 29. Big, large and great 30. Born and borne 31. Bring and take 32. But Perfect Your Sentences

Page 3

33. Change of tense 34. Close and shut 35. Cloth and clothes 36. Collective nouns 37. Come and go 38. Common preposition + noun combinations 39. Comparatives and superlatives 40. Comparatives: Comparatives : a common error 41. Conjunctions 42. Correlatives 43. Dead and died 44. Determiners 45. Do and make 46. Double negatives 47. During and for 48. Each and every 49. Each other and one another 50. East, eastern, north, northern etc. 51. Elder and eldest 52. End and finish 53. Enough 54. Especially and specially 55. Except and except for 56. Expect and hope 57. Expressions without prepositions Perfect Your Sentences

Page 4

58. Far and a long way 59. Gerund 60. Historic present 61. I don't mind 62. If clauses 63. Imperative sentences 64. Indirect questions 65. Invent and discover 66. Inversion of subject and verb 67. Its and it’s 68. Joining sentences 69. Keep and put 70. Kind and kinds, sort and sorts etc. 71. Less and fewer 72. Lie and Lay 73. Like and as 74. Look after and look for 75. Lose and loose 76. Many/much and plenty of/a lot of 77. May and can 78. Maybe and perhaps 79. Much and many 80. Neither, nor and not...either 81. Nominative and objective case 82. No sooner ...than Perfect Your Sentences

Page 5

83. Nouns that do not have a singular form 84. Nouns with no plural forms 85. Nouns with identical singular and plural forms 86. Numbers 87. On and in 88. Only 89. On time and in time 90. On the whole and the whole of 91. Participles 92. Positive or comparative? 93. Past perfect tense 94. Possessive case 95. Prepositions 96. Present perfect tense 97. Price and Prize 98. Pronouns 99. Say and tell 100. Scarcely...when 101. Search and search for 102. Sincerely 103. Singular and plural nouns 104. Subordinate clause 105. Suggest 106. Than and as 107. Thank you and please Perfect Your Sentences

Page 6

108. Told and asked 109. Too and very 110. Transitive verbs 111. Two words or one 112. Unless and if 113. Verbs 114. -ward and –wards 115. Well and Good 116. Why not + infinitive 117. Whether and If 118. Whose and who’s 119. Will or shall? 120. Yes and No

1. Accordin g to • •

Incorrect: According to me, me , she should have resigned earlier. Correct: In my opinion, opinion , she should have resigned earlier.

We do not give our own opinions with according to.

2. Across and thro ugh The difference between across and through is similar to the difference between o n and in . We use through to talk about movement in three dimensional spaces with things on all sides. •

We walked across the field. (= We were on the field.)

Perfect Your Sentences

Page 7

•

We walked through the wood. (= We were in the wood.)

3. Adjectives ending in -ly • • • •

Incorrect: She smiled friendly. Correct: She smiled in a friendly way. Incorrect: He laughed silly. Correct: He gave a silly laugh

Here the error lies in using an adjective instead of an adverb. We use adverbs to modify verbs. Most adverbs end in –ly; there are also a few adjectives that end in – ly. Examples are: costly, friendly, lively, likely, lonely, lovely, silly and ugly . There are no adverbs costly/costlily or friendly/friendlily.

4. Ago and b efore • •

Incorrect: His father died three years before. Correct: His father died three years ago.

A g o is used to count back from the present. It is used with a past tense and a time expression. Before is used when you date back from any point of time which is made specific. •

I saw him two years before I went to England.

5. All and every • • • •

Incorrect: Every children need love. Correct: Every child needs love. Incorrect: All the light was out. Correct: All the lights were out.

Every is used with a singular noun. A ll is used with a plural noun.

6. All right and alrigh t


Page 8

The standard spelling is all right, right , but alright is more common although many people consider it incorrect.

7. Already and all ready • • • •

Incorrect: We are already for the show. Correct: We are all ready for the show. Incorrect: They have all ready arrived. Correct: They have already arrived.

All ready means ‘all means ‘all are ready’ . Already means 'by 'by now' or 'sooner than expected'. • •

The train had already left before we reached the station. The patient had already died before the doctor arrived.

8. Alternate and alternative Alternative means 'different', 'different', 'instead', 'on the other hand'. • •

We will make an alternative arrangement if these plans don't suit you. I had to go. There was no alternative.

Alternate means m eans 'every second' or 'in turns'. He only comes to work on alternate days.

9. Altogether and all together Altogether means ‘entirely ‘entirely’’ or ‘everything ‘everything considered’. • •

I don’t altogether agree. It is altogether wrong to ill-treat animals.

All together simply means ‘everybody ‘ everybody / everything together’. • •

They al l went out together. She put the glasses all together in the sink.


Page 9

10. Any and some Both some and an y suggest an indefinite amount or number. Some is more common in affirmative clauses. A n y is used in questions and negative clauses. Compare: • • •

I need some pencils. (NOT I need any pencils.) Have you got any pencils? Sorry, I haven't got any pencils.

11. Anyhow and somehow • • • •

• •

Incorrect: He did it anyhow. Correct: He managed to do it somehow. Incorrect: He keeps his things somehow in his desk. Correct: He keeps his things anyhow in his desk. (= He doesn’t keep his things in order.) Incorrect: He may not come but somehow I shall. Correct: He may not come but anyhow I shall. (= I will certainly come.)

Use 'anyhow' to mean 'in disorder'. ‘Anyhow’ can also mean 'for certain'.

12. Articles The misuse of th of th e and a is very common. Here are the basic rules for the use and omission of articles. Proper nouns (e.g. John, Alice and India) do not take articles. • • • •

Incorrect: The John is my friend. Correct: John is my friend. Incorrect: The Tokyo is a big city. Correct: Tokyo is a big city.

A singular common noun (e.g. boy, cat, tree, book, apple etc.) must have an article. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 10

• •

Incorrect: There is cat on roof. Correct: There is a cat on the roof.

A plural common noun cannot be used with the article a . It is usually used with no article, though 'some' is sometimes used before it. Compare: • •

A spider has eight legs. Spiders have eight legs.

Remember that a noun can be common in one sentence and proper in another sentence. A superlative adjective is usually used with the. • •

Incorrect: He is best player in the team. Correct: He is the best player in the team.

13. Article a – correct use The article 'a ' placed in front of a noun conveys the idea of 'one'. When writing about two separate objects, a second ' a' must be used. If the two objects are considered as one, then the second 'a' may be left out. • •

• • • •

Incorrect: I have a hammer and chisel. Correct: I have a hammer and a chisel. chisel . (Here we are talking about two separate objects.) Incorrect: She has a son and daughter. Correct: She has a son and a daughter. daughter . Incorrect: The mechanic used a block and a tackle to lift the machine. Correct: The mechanic used a block and tackle to lift the machine. (Here we are talking about one object.)

14. Ask and ask for Ask for: ask somebody to give something Ask: ask somebody to tell something •

He asked me f or a loan. (NOT He asked me a loan.)


Page 11

• • •

They asked ten dollars fo r the book. If you don't know the answer, as k the teacher. Don't as k me my name. (NOT Don’t ask me for my name)

15. At first and first At first is used to talk about the beginning of a situation. It is often followed by but. In other cases, we usually use first. • •

At first everything seemed fine, but then things started going wrong. I first met her at a restaurant.

16. Avenge and revenge • • • •

Incorrect: I must revenge my father. Correct: I must avenge my father. Incorrect: I must revenge my enemy. Correct: I must take revenge on my enemy.

These two words are often confused. To 'avenge my father' means to ‘punish someone who has hurt my father’.

17. Back and again When used with a verb, back suggests a return to an earlier situation or a movement in the opposite direction. • • • •

Give me my watch back. back . (NOT Give me my watch again.) Take your money back. Put the book back on the shelf when you have finished with it. These mangoes aren't good. I am taking them back to the shop.

When used with a verb, again suggests repetition. • •

I did not hear what you said. Please say it again. That was a lovely song. Can you play it again?

18. Bath and bathe Perfect Your Sentences

Page 12

In British English, the verb bath is used to mean 'wash oneself in a bath tub'. •

Children should bath regularly.

The verb bath is not used in American English. Instead, the expressions 'have a bath' or 'take a bath' are used. •

As I was feeling hot, I took a bath.

In British English, bathe means 'swim for pleasure'. pleasure'. It is very formal. In an informal style, we use the expressions 'have a swim' or 'go for a swim'. •

He said he had a good bathe.

In American English, bathe is used to mean 'take a bath'. •

I always bathe before I go to bed. (= I always take a bath before I go to bed.)

Note that to lie in the sun is to sunbathe.

19. Beat and w in Beat is usually followed by an object which refers to the person you are playing or fighting against. •

She always beats me at poker.

W in can also be followed by an object, but it usually refers to things like money or prize. You can also win in a game, a race, a battle or an argument. • •

She w on the first prize prize in the quiz competition. She always w ins when w e play poker.

20. Because • •

Incorrect: He did not come to school. Because he was ill. Correct: He did not come to school because he was ill.

This is a very common punctuation mistake. Because is a subordinating conjunction. It must not be separated from its main clause by a full stop.


Page 13

21. Because and because of Because is a conjunction. It is used to join two clauses and is followed by a subject and verb. • •

We couldn’t go out because it rained. I did it because he told me to do it.

Note that the ‘because ‘because clause’ can clause’ can come before or after the main clause. • •

Because it was so hot, we went home. We went home because it was so hot.

Because of is of is a two-word preposition. It is used before a noun or a pronoun. • •

We couldn’t go out because of the rain. I did it because of him. of him.

22. Because and for • •

Incorrect: I am glad fo r tomorrow is a holiday. Correct: I am glad because tomorrow is a holiday.

F o r is hardly wrong, but it is better to use because to introduce a casual clause.

23. Begin and start There is little or no difference between begin and start. start . Begin is more common in a formal style. • • •

He started started / began working when he was 19. We will begin begin / start start the next lesson tomorrow. It is time to begin begin / start start work.

Cases where begin is not possible We start (but not begin) a journey or a machine. •

•

•

We started in the morning and reached before sunset. (NOT We began in the morning...) How do you start a washing machine? (NOT How do you begin a washing machine?) At last the train started. started . (NOT At last the train began.)


Page 14

24. Beside and besides Beside is a preposition. It means 'by' or 'next to'. • •

The mother sat beside her children. Who is that fat lady sitting beside Peter?

Besides is similar to as w ell as. as. It is used to add new information to what is already known. • •

Besides the violin, he can play the guitar and the piano. Who was at the party besides Jane and Peter?

25. Besides, except and apart from These expressions often cause confusion. Besides usually adds whereas except subtracts. Compare: •

•

Besides mathematics, mathematics , we have to learn physics and chemistry. (We learn three subjects.) He can play all musical instruments except the flute. flute . (He can’t play the flute.)

Apart from can be used in both senses. •

•

Apart from mathematics, mathematics , we have to learn physics and chemistry. (= Besides mathematics, we have to ...) He can play all musical instruments apart from th e violin. violin. (= He can play all musical instruments except the violin.)

26. Between Between and among We use between with two or more clearly separate people or things. We use among when the reference is to a group, a crowd, or a mass of people or things which we do not see separately. • •

She sat between Alice and Mary. (Two clearly separate people) She sat among her students.


Page 15

•

•

There is a tourist home between the w oods, the river and the hills. (Three clearly separate things) The tourist home is hidden among the trees.

We use between, between , not among, after difference. •

What is the main difference difference betw een a square and a rectangle?

27. Betw een and during • • • •

Incorrect: England grew prosperous between Queen Victoria's reign. Correct: England grew prosperous during Queen Victoria's reign. Incorrect: The First World War was fought during 1914 - 18. Correct: The First World War was fought between 1914 - 18.

Two events must be mentioned if you want to use between.

28. Betw een and from A common mistake that is often noticed these days is the use of t of t o after between. • • •

•

Incorrect: The interview will be held between 2 to 4pm. Correct: The interview will be held between 2 and 4 pm. Incorrect: The conference will take place between the 12th to the 18th of this month. Correct: The conference will take place between the 12th and the 18th of this month.

Or else you can say: • •

The interview will be held from 2 to 4 pm. The conference will take place from the 12th to the 18th of this month.

29. Big, large and great We use b ig and large with concrete nouns - the names of objects which we can see or touch. In an informal style, b ig is more common than large. • •

He has got big / large large feet. They have a large large / big house in the city.


Page 16

We use great with abstract nouns - the names of things which we cannot see or touch. • •

I think it was a great mistake. I have great respect for him.

In an informal style b ig is also used with countable abstract nouns. Large is not used with abstract nouns. •

I think it was a big m istake. (BUT NOT I think it was a large mistake.)

None of these three words are used with uncountable nouns. •

I have got a lot of luggage. luggage . (NOT I have got big/large/great luggage.)

30. Born and borne The passive form of the verb born (be + born) is used to talk about coming into the world at birth. • • •

He was born to poor parents. I w as born born on a Friday. She was born in Italy.

Borne is the past participle form of the verb bear. bear . It is sometimes used to mean 'give birth to' or 'carry'. •

She has borne eight children. (= She has given birth to eight children.)

31. Bring and take • • • • • •

Incorrect: I don't know what to bring when I leave for the conference. Correct: I don't know what to take when I leave for the conference. Incorrect: I shall bring my wife with me when I go. Correct: I shall take my wife with me when I go. Incorrect: Take that book to me at my desk. Correct: Bring that book to me at my desk.

Use bring when something is being moved towards the speaker. •

Bring me that book.

Use take when something is being moved away from the area of the speaker. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 17

•

Take that file with you. (Here the file is being moved away from the area of the speaker.)

32. But • •

Incorrect: He is the fastest runner and he came last. Correct: He is the fastest runner b u t he came last.

B u t is the conjunction to use when the second main clause gives unexpected or contradictory information.

33. Change Change o f tense The first verb in a sentence establishes the tense of any verb that comes later. If you begin writing in the past, don’t change to the present. Similarly, if you begin writing in the present, don’t change to the past. •

•

• •

Incorrect: In the story, the king loses his kingdom, but he regained everything in the end. Correct: In the story, the king loses his kingdom, but he regains everything in the end. Incorrect: Incorrect: The team won yesterday, but goes and loses this afternoon. Correct: The team w on yesterday, but went and lost this afternoon.

34. Close Close and shut There is little difference of meaning between close and shut. • • •

Shut/ close your eyes. Can you clo close/ se/ shut the door? They clo close/ se/ shut the shops at 8 o'clock.

Cases where close is preferred We close (and not shut) roads, letters, bank accounts, meetings etc. •

You should close your existing account before opening a new account. (NOT You should shut your existing account …)


Page 18

35. Cloth Cloth and clothes Cloth is the material used for making clothes. Clothes are things you wear. •

His clothes are made of expensive cloth.

36. Collective Collective nou ns Group words or collective nouns take a singular verb if you are talking of the group as a whole. They take a plural verb if you are talking about the individual members of the group. Compare: • •

The jury is in the courtroom. (Here we are talking about the whole group.) The jury are still debating the case. (Here we are talking about the individual members of the group.)

Note: Collective nouns are always singular in American English.

37. Come Come and go Come is used for movements to the place where the speaker or hearer is. • • •

Come to me. (Movement towards the speaker) 'Alice, can you come here?' 'Yes, I am coming.' (NOT I am going.) Can I come and sit beside you? (Movement towards the hearer)

Go is used for movements to other places. • •

Let's g o and see them. (NOT Let's come and see them.) I want to go and live in the hills. (NOT I want to come and live in the hills.)

38. Common preposition + noun combinatio ns • • • • •

At the cinema; at the theatre; at the party; at university By car/bike/bus/train/boat/plane/land/sea/air On the radio; on TV; on the phone In pen/pencil/ink In a suit/raincoat/shirt/skirt/hat etc


Page 19

39. Comparatives Comparatives and superlatives The comparative (e.g. taller, sharper, stronger, heavier, shorter etc.) is used to compare one person or thing with another person or thing. • •

John is taller than Peter. Alice is cleverer than Mary.

The superlative (e.g. tallest, sharpest, strongest, heaviest, shortest etc.) is used to compare somebody or something with the whole group to which she/he/it belongs. • • •

John is the tallest boy in the class. Alice is the prettiest of the of the four girls. He is the best player in the team.

When a group has only two members, we prefer the comparative to the superlative. • • • •

Incorrect: Take the shortest of the two routes. Correct: Take the shorter of the two routes. Incorrect: She is the prettiest of the two sisters. Correct: She is the prettier of the two sisters.

40. Comparatives: a common error In comparative sentences be careful to compare the same part of two things. That of, these of and of and those of are of are necessary words that are often omitted. • • • • • •

Incorrect: His teaching was like Jesus Christ. Correct: His teaching was like that of Jesus Christ. Incorrect: The size of the shoe must be the same as this shoe. Correct: The size of the shoe must be the same as that of this shoe. Incorrect: My books are better than my friend. Correct: My books are better than those of my friend.

41. Conjunction Conjunction s One conjunction is enough to join two clauses. English does not require a second conjunction. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 20

• • • • • • • •

Incorrect: Though he is old but he is healthy. Correct: Though he is old he is healthy. OR He is old but he is healthy. Incorrect: As he was fat so he ran slowly. Correct: A s he was fat he ran slowly. OR He was fat so he ran slowly. Incorrect: If you work hard then you will succeed. Correct: I f you f you work hard you will succeed. Incorrect: Because he is clever therefore he gets good marks. Correct: Because he is clever he gets good marks.

42. Correlatives When the correlatives either ...or, ...or, neither ... ..nor, nor, b oth...and, oth...and, n ot only...but only...but also are used, you must see that they are placed before words of the same part of speech. • • • • • •

Incorrect: The car either dashed against a dog or a goat. (verb-noun) Correct: The car dashed against either a dog or a goat. goat . (noun-noun) Incorrect: Neither he would eat nor allow us to eat. (noun-verb) Correct: He would neither eat nor allow us to eat. (verb-verb) Incorrect: Neither he smokes nor drinks. (noun-verb) Correct: He neither smokes nor drinks. (verb-verb)

43. Dead and died Dead is an adjective. It is used to modify a noun. • •

He is dead. dead . (NOT He is died.) A dead man (NOT A died man)

Died is the past tense and the past participle participle of the verb die. • •

He has died. died . (NOT He has dead.) He died last year. (NOT He dead last year.)

44. Determiners Articles (a/an, the), possessives (my, your, his, her, their, our etc.) and demonstratives (this, that, these and those) are called Group A determiners. determiners .


Page 21

Note that we cannot put two Group A determiners together. We can say my cat, the cat or that cat, cat, but not the my cat or my that cat. In order to put together the meanings of a possessive and an article or a demonstrative, we use a structure with of . • •

•

He is a friend of mine. (NOT He is a my friend.) These shoes of mine pinch me terribly. (NOT These my shoes pinch me terribly.) Those dirty fingers of yours have stained the walls. (NOT Those your dirty fingers have ...)

45. Do and make Do is sometimes confused with make. make . Make is used to talk about building or creating. • •

Let's make a cake. I once made a toy train.

Do is sometimes used instead of make. of make. This is common when we want to sound casual about a creative activity. •

'What shall we eat?' 'Well, let me do an omelette.' omelette .' (More casual than ‘Let me make an omelette.’)

Common fixed expressions expressions w ith do and make Both d o and make are used in some common fixed expressions. Do good, harm, business, one's best, a favor, sport, exercise, one's hair, one's teeth, one's duty, 50mph etc. Make a journey, an offer, arrangements, a suggestion, a decision, an attempt, an effort, an excuse, an exception, a mistake, a noise, a phone call, money, a profit, a fortune, love, peace, war, a bed, a fire, progress etc.

46. Double negatives Never use a negative verb and a negative qualifier (e.g. nothing, hardly, scarcely, nobody etc.) together. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 22

• • • • • •

Incorrect: I haven't nothing to prove. Correct: I have nothing to prove. Incorrect: Alice can't hardly wait until her birthday. Correct: Alice can hardly wait until her birthday. Incorrect: There wasn't nobody at the door. Correct: There w as nobody nobody at the door.

47. During and for During is used to say when something happens. F o r is used to say how long it lasts. • • • •

Incorrect: I was in France fo r the summer. Correct: I was in France during the summer. Incorrect: I was in France during two months. Correct: I was in France f or two months.

48. Each and every Use each and every together only if you want to convey very strong emphasis. • • •

Incorrect: Each and every person wore a hat. Correct: Each person wore a hat. Correct: Everybody wore a hat.

49. Each Each other and o ne another In modern English each other and one another are used in the same way. On e another is preferred when we are making general statements. •

They have stopped talking to each other/ other/ one another. another.

Both expressions can be used in the possessive form. •

They would sit for hours listening to each other's / one another's tales. tales.

50. East, eastern , nort h, north ern etc. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 23

The words east, w est etc., are used for clearly defined places. The words eastern, western etc., are used when we are talking about vague areas. Compare: • •

The northern part of the country is hilly. The north side of the house has four windows.

Capital letters Capital letters are used at the beginning of East, of East, Eastern, North, Northern etc., when they come in official place names. • • •

South Africa the Middle East North Korea

In other cases these words begin with small letters. • •

The sun rises in the east. He came from the west.

51. Elder and eldest • • • •

Incorrect: He is elder than me. Correct: He is older than me. Incorrect: He is the eldest man in the village. Correct: He is the oldest man in the village.

Elder and eldest can be used to talk about the order of birth of the members of a family. Note that they are only used before nouns. After a verb we use older or oldest. • • •

My elder/ older brother brother is a writer. His eldest/ eldest/ oldest son is in the Army. He is older than me. (NOT He is elder than me. Elder and eldest can’t be used in the predicative (after a verb) position.)

52. End End and fini sh When followed by a direct object, finish means complete. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 24

• •

I have finished my job. (= I have completed my job.) You never let me finish a sentence. sentence . (= You never let me complete a sentence.)

Finish can be followed by an -ing form. •

Have you finished writing that novel?

When followed by a direct object, en d means stop. •

They have decided to end their affair. (NOT They have decided to finish their affair.)

En d cannot be followed by an -ing form. When they are not followed by objects, en d and finish have similar meanings. •

When does the concert finish/ finish/ end?

53. Enough • • • •

Incorrect: He was enough foolish to trust her. Correct: He was foolish enough to trust her. Incorrect: If I were enough rich, rich , I would buy a new car. Correct: If I were rich enough , I would buy a new car.

The adverb enough comes after the adjective which it qualifies.

54. Especially and specially Both specially and especially can often be used with the same meaning. •

It was not specially specially / especially especially cold.

Especially can mean 'above all'. •

Sometimes I feel rather lonely, especially in the evenings.

Specially is used to mean 'for a particular purpose'. •

I made this cake specially for you.


Page 25

55. Except Except and except fo r • • • •

Incorrect: Except you, I like everyone. Correct: Except for you , I like everyone. Incorrect: Except this mistake, you did very well. Correct: Except for this mistake, mistake , you did very well.

Except can be used without f or after words like all, every, no, everythin g, anybody, now here, w hole etc. In other cases we usually use except for. •

•

• • •

He cleaned al l the rooms except the bedroom. OR He cleaned al l the rooms except for the bedroom. (Except can be used without for after all.) Nobody was invited except Peter and Alice. Alice . OR Nobody was invited except for Peter and Alice. I like everyone except / except for for you. They were all tired except / except for John. That was a good essay, except for a few spelling mistakes. (NOT That was a good essay, except a few spelling mistakes.)

Before prepositions and conjunctions we use except.

56. Expect Expect and ho pe • •

Incorrect: She is hoping a raise. Correct: She is expecting a raise.

When we expect something we think that it will in fact happen. When we hope for something to happen, we would like it to happen, but we don't know whether it will. • •

She is expecting a baby. (= She is pregnant now.) She is hoping that it will be a girl. (She doesn’t know whether it will be a boy or a girl, but she will be happier if it is a girl.)

We can expect good or bad things to happen, but we only hope for good things.

57. Expressions w ithout prepositions The verbs discu ss, enter , marr y, lack, resemble and approach are normally followed by objects without prepositions. •

Incorrect: She married with an old man.


Page 26

• • • • •

Correct: She married an old man. Incorrect: We must discuss about the plans. Correct: We must discuss the plans. Incorrect: The baby resembles to its dad. Correct: The baby resembles its dad.

58. Far and a long w ay We use f ar in questions and negative clauses. • •

Did you walk far? The railway station is not far from here.

We use a long w ay in affirmative clauses. • •

We walked a long way. (NOT We walked far.) The post office is a long way from here.

F ar is common in affirmative clauses with adverbs like too, so, enough and as . •

You have walked a bit too far.

59. Gerund • • • •

Incorrect: I am thinking to write a novel. Correct: I am thinking of writing a novel. Incorrect: We were prevented from enter the room. Correct: We were prevented from entering the room.

A preposition is followed by a gerund (-ing forms) and not an infinitive. • • • •

Incorrect: They insisted on me resigning the post. Correct: They insisted on m y resigning the post. Incorrect: They objected to John playing for the other team. Correct: They objected to John's playing for the other team.

A noun or a pronoun used before a gerund should be in the possessive case. Note that the possessive case should not be used with a gerund when the gerund is in the passive or when the noun or pronoun denotes a lifeless thing. •

Incorrect: There is no danger of the roof's crashing.


Page 27

•

Correct: There is no danger of the roof crashing. roof crashing.

60. Historic present When writing about a past event, we can use the present tense to make it appear as if the event is actually happening. Even if a person is dead, he or she can still be spoken of in the present tense. This is known as using the historic present. The following sentences are written using the historic present. • •

Winston Churchill is one of England’s greatest statesmen. Captain Cook is responsible for white settlement in Australia.

61. I don't mind • •

Incorrect: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'I don't mind.' Correct: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'Thank you' OR 'No, thank you.'

Say ‘Thanks’ or ‘Thank you’ while accepting an offer. Say ‘No, thanks’ or ‘No, thank you’ while declining an offer. 'I don't mind' is rude. It shows indifference: that the person does not care whether he drinks coffee or not. 'I don't mind' should be used only when it is permissible to indicate no strong preference.

62. If clauses • • • •

Incorrect: If it rains we w ould cancel cancel the match. Correct: If it rains we w ill cancel cancel the match. Incorrect: If you h it the dog, it w ould bite bite you. Correct: If you h it the dog, it w ill bite bite you.

When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple present tense, we use w ill/ ill/ shall/ shall/ can/ may + infiniti infinitive ve in the main clause. • •

Incorrect: If you studied hard, you w ill get get a first class. Correct: If you studied hard, you w ould get get a first class.


Page 28

When the verb in the if-clause is in the simple past tense, we use w ould/ ould/ should/ should/ could/ could/ might might + infiniti infinitive ve in the main clause. Sentences of these types are used to talk about purely imaginary situations. • •

Incorrect: If you had studied hard, hard , you w ould get get a first class. Correct: If you had studied hard, hard , you w ould have got a first class.

When the verb in the main clause is in the past perfect tense, we use w ould/ should/ could/ might + have + past past participl participle e in the main clause.

63. Imperative sentences • • • •

Incorrect: See that you will come for the meeting in time. Correct: See that you come for the meeting in time. Incorrect: Take care that you will not be cheated. Correct: Take care that you ar e not cheated.

It is wrong to use future tense in the subordinate clause when the verb in the main clause is in the imperative mood. mood . In such clauses, the simple present should be used instead of the simple future.

64. In direct questions The indirect question is really not a question at all. It has no inversion of subject and predicate as in a direct question. It does not use the auxiliary do either. Compare: • •

• •

Direct: Where are you going? Indirect: He asked me where I w as going going.. (NOT He asked me where was I going?) Direct: When does he propose to start? Indirect: I want to know w hen he proposes to start start . (NOT I want to know when does he propose to start?)

Note that we do not use a question mark at the end of an indirect question.

65. Invent and discover Perfect Your Sentences

Page 29

• • • •

Incorrect: Who invented America? Correct: Who discovered America? America ? Incorrect: Who discovered the telephone? Correct: Who invented the telephone?

Use invent of something which did not exist until man created it. Example: a computer or a telephone. Use discover of something which existed without man's knowledge. Example: mineral deposits, countries, continents, planets etc.

66. Inversion of subject and verb • • • •

Incorrect: Never I have seen such a sight. Correct: Never have I seen such a sight. Incorrect: Hardly I have had any rest for a week. Correct: Hardly have I had any rest for a week.

When the first word of the sentence is a negative, the main verb comes before the subject, as in a direct question.

67. Its and it’s These two words often cause confusion. I ts is the possessive form of it of it . •

Every country has it s traditions.

It’s is the contracted form of it of it is or it has. • •

It’s raining. (= It is raining.) It’s gone. (= It has gone.)

68. Joinin g sentences • • • • •

Incorrect: This is my friend, he was at school with me. Correct: This is my friend w h o was at school with me. Incorrect: This is my house, I live here. Correct: This is my house where I live. Incorrect: This is an interesting story, I am reading it.


Page 30

•

Correct: This is an interesting story which I am reading.

Two main clauses which are not separated by a full stop should be linked by a conjunction or a relative pronoun.

69. Keep and put • • • •

Incorrect: He kept the book on the table. Correct: He pu t the book on the table. Incorrect: He always puts his money in this box. Correct: He always keeps his money in this box.

Use keep of a more or less permanent resting place. Use p u t of only a temporary one.

70. Kind and kinds, sort and sorts etc. The words kind , sort , type and class are singular and should be used with this or that to modify a singular noun. The words kinds, sorts, types and classes are plural and should be used with these or those to modify plural nouns. • • • • • • • •

Incorrect: I like these kind of mangoes. Correct: I like these kinds of mangoes. Incorrect: I don't like this sort of meat pies. Correct: I don't like this sort of meat pie. Incorrect: Those are the kinds of film I like to watch. Correct: Those are the kinds of films I like to watch. Incorrect: These type of cars are very fast. Correct: These types of cars are very fast.

71. Less Less and few er Less refers to a quantity that cannot be counted. Fewer refers to a number that can be counted. Compare: • •

I am eating less meat. We caught fewer fish.


Page 31

• •

There were fewer children children in the class than expected. We did less w ork today than yesterday.

72. Lie and Lay • • • • • • • •

Incorrect: Dad has laid on the sofa all morning. Correct: Dad has lain on the sofa all morning. Incorrect: Mother says she has already lain the table. Correct: Mother says she has already laid the table. Incorrect: The book was lain on the table. Correct: The book w as laid laid on the table. Incorrect: I would like to lay in the sun. Correct: I would like to lie in the sun.

To lie means to rest. rest . Its different forms are given below: Infinitive: lie; -ing form: lying; Past tense: lay; Past participle: lain • • • • •

I I I I I

li e on the bed. am lying on the bed. w as lying lying on the bed. la y on the bed. have lain on the bed.

To lie also means ‘to ‘to not tell the truth’. Its different forms are given below: Infinitive: lie; -ing form: lying; past tense: lied; past participle: lied • • • • •

I I I I I

lie. am lying. w as lying. lying. lied. have lied.

To lay means ‘to ‘to put something down.’ Its down.’ Its different forms are: Infinitive: lay; -ing form: laying; past tense: laid; past participle: laid • • • • •

I I I I I

la y the plate on the table. am laying the plate on the table. w as laying laying the plate on the table. laid the plate on the table. have laid the plate on the table.


Page 32

73. Like and as A s is followed by a clause. Like is followed by a noun. • • • • •

Incorrect: He did like he was told. Correct: He did as he w as told. Incorrect: He fought like a tiger does. Correct: He fought like a tiger. Correct: He fought as a tiger does.

74. Look after and look for Look after means ‘take means ‘take care of’ . Look for means ‘try means ‘try to find’. • •

Nurses look after sick people. (= Nurses take care of sick people.) I am looking for my keys. (= I am trying to find my keys.)

75. Lose and loose Lose is an irregular verb (lose – lost – lost). Loose is the opposite of tight of tight.. It is an adjective. •

•

She needs to lose oodles of weight. (NOT She needs to loose oodles of weight.) This shirt is loose for me. (NOT This shirt is lose for me.)

76. Many/ much and plenty plenty of/ a lot of The expressions a lot of, plenty of and of and a great deal of are of are preferred in affirmative clauses. In questions and negatives, we usually use much or many. Compare: • •

I have a lot of work of work to do. (NOT I have much work to do.) Do you have much work to do? (More natural than ‘Do you have a lot of work to do?’)


Page 33

•

• • •

No, I don’t have much work to do. (More natural than ‘No, I don’t have a lot of work to do’) Plenty of people of people want to buy cars. Are there many people who want cars? Yes, but there aren’t many people who can afford them. (NOT There aren’t plenty of people who can afford them.)

Many is occasionally used in the affirmative, but much is almost never used in that e n t y o f and a g r e a t d e a l o f are almost never way. The expressions a l o t o f , p l en used in the negative, but they are occasionally used in questions.

77. May and can Can Ca n expresses ability. • • •

She ca n speak English. He ca n play the piano. Can Ca n you speak Hindi?

Can Ca n is also used in the sense of m of m ay to give permission, though m ay is more correct. • •

You ca n take one of those books. OR You m ay take one of those books. You ca n go now. OR You m ay go now.

Nowadays, ca n is also being increasingly used to ask permission. •

‘Can I come in, Sir?’

78. Maybe and perhaps These two words mean the same. Maybe is more common in an informal style. •

Maybe/ Maybe/ perhaps perhaps he will come.

Perhaps is often pronounced ‘praps’ by British people. In American English, perhaps is rather formal.

79. Much and man y Perfect Your Sentences

Page 34

Much is used with singular nouns. Many is used with plural nouns. • •

There aren’t many people who can afford cars. Have you got much work to do?

Much and many are mostly used in questions and negative sentences. They are unusual in affirmative clauses except after words like as, so and too. •

She has got lots of friends. of friends. (More natural than ‘She has got many friends.’)

80. Neith er, nor and n ot.. ot...either .either Negative additions to negative remarks are made with nor/ neither + auxiliary auxiliary verb + subject • • • •

Incorrect: 'I can't swim.' 'I also can't' Correct: 'I can't swim.' 'Neither/ nor can I.' I.' Incorrect: John didn't come, and Peter didn't too. Correct: John didn't come, neither/ nor did Peter.

Not either means the same as neither neither and n o r . It is preceded by subject + auxiliary verb. • •

Incorrect: 'I can't swim.' 'I also can't.' Correct: 'I can't swim.' 'I can 't either.'

81. Nominative and objective case Pronouns that are used as subjects of verbs are: I, he, she, w e, they and yo u •

Neither Alice nor I like the opera. (NOT Neither Alice nor me like the opera. Here the pronouns Alice and I are part of the subject.)

Pronouns that are used as objects of verbs or prepositions are: me, him, her, us, them and yo u . Note that yo u does not change its form. • •

•

I tackled h im . (NOT I tackled he. Here him is the object of the verb tackled.) She sat above m e . (NOT She sat above I. Here me is the object of the preposition above.) Between you and m e there are few secrets. (NOT Between you and I there are few secrets. Here the pronouns you and me are the objects of the preposition between.)


Page 35

•

•

•

There are no problems between h im and h er . (NOT There are no problems between he and she.) Let yo u and me do it. (NOT Let you and I do it. Here you and me are the objects of the verb let.) He has given great trouble to my father and m e . (NOT He has given great trouble to my father and I. Here my father and I are the objects of the preposition to.)

Grammarians formerly used to recommend that a pronoun used as the complement of the verb b e (is/am/are/was/were), should be in the nominative (subject) form. Today the use of the nominative form in such cases is considered extremely formal and over-correct. Instead, we use the objective form. • •

It is me. me . (More natural than It is I.) That w as him. him. (More natural than That was he.)

82. No s oon er ...than ...than It is wrong to use when instead of than of than in these sentences. If no If no sooner begins the sentence, the auxiliary d id or h ad must come immediately after it. • • • •

Incorrect: No sooner had she read the telegram when she fainted. Correct: No sooner had she read the telegram than she fainted. Incorrect: No sooner I heard the shot than I rushed to the spot. Correct: No sooner did I hear the shot than I rushed to the spot.

83. Nouns that do not have a singular form Some nouns do not have a singular form. Examples are: oats, cattle, pants, scissors, tongs, shears, trousers, binoculars, shorts and tweezers. tweezers. We cannot say a pants or a cattle. • •

The tongs were by the fireplace. (NOT The tong was by the fireplace.) Tw eezers are are useful when handling stamps. (NOT A tweezer is useful when handling stamps.)

The singular aspect of the word is usually indicated by using 'a pair of'. Compare: •

The scissors are in the drawer.


Page 36

• • • • •

A pair of scissors is in the drawer. The garden shears shears w ere used to clip the hedge. A pair of garden shears was used to clip the hedge. Trousers were hanging in the cupboard. A pair of trousers was hanging in the cupboard.

84. Nouns w ith no plural forms Some nouns do not have a plural form. Examples are: scenery, furniture, wheat, dust, silverware, information, news, luggage, bread, advice, chess, chewing gum, equipment, grass, permission, publicity, rubbish, traffic etc. •

•

•

• •

Switzerland is known for its scenery. scenery . (NOT Switzerland is known for its sceneries.) We bought some furniture yesterday. (NOT We bought some furnitures yesterday.) Have you received any information ? (NOT Have you received any informations?) I packed my luggage. luggage . (NOT I packed my luggages.) There are no loaves in this shop. (NOT There are no breads in this shop.)

Nouns that do not have a plural form are usually treated as uncountable nouns. Most uncountable nouns have countable equivalents. Advice (uncountable) - a piece of advice (countable) Bread (uncountable) (uncountable) - a piece of bread / a loaf / a roll Equipment - a piece of equipment / a tool Baggage - a piece of baggage Furniture - a piece of furniture / an article of furniture Grass - a blade of grass Information - a piece of information Lightning - a flash of lightning Luck - a bit of luck / a stroke of luck News - a piece of news Perfect Your Sentences

Page 37

Poetry - a poem Travel - a journey / a trip Work - a piece of work / a job •

• •

• •

We bought a piece of furniture yesterday. (NOT We bought a furniture yesterday.) We heard a piece of news. (NOT We heard a news.) I need a piece of equipment to fix this. OR I need a tool to fix this. (NOT I need an equipment to fix this.) I am learning a new poem. poem . (NOT I am learning a new poetry.) He gave me some advice. advice . OR He gave me a piece of advice. advice . (NOT He gave me an advice.)

85. Nouns w ith identical singular singular and plural forms Some nouns have identical singular and plural forms. Examples are: sheep and deer. • •

This deer is hungry. These deer are hungry.

86. Numb ers Write the numbers of kings and queens in Roman characters. • •

Elizabeth II King George VI

Write ordinal numbers (first, second, third etc.) up to twelfth in words except in dates. • •

Incorrect: He came a 3rd time. Correct: He came a third time.

Write dates thus, 'May 'May 12th' 12th' or '12th '12th May' May' and not thus, 'the 'the 12th of May' May' or 'the 'the twelfth of May'. Write cardinal numbers up to twelve in words, except when telling the time.


Page 38

Write cardinal and ordinal numbers above twelve and twelfth in either words or figures as seems in each case the more convenient.

87. On and in Use on when the meaning is clearly 'on top of'. Example: 'on a table'. Use in when 'on top of' is not appropriate. • • • • • •

Incorrect: He rides in a cycle. Correct: He rides on a cycle. Incorrect: He rides on a car. Correct: He rides in a car. Incorrect: He sat on a tree. Correct: He sat in a tree.

88. Only The word only should be written in front of and next to the word or phrase it modifies. Compare: •

• •

Only John may play in the garden. (= John and nobody else may play in the garden.) John may play only in the garden . (= John may play nowhere else.) John may only play in the garden. (= John may play - but do nothing else in the garden.)

89. On time and in time • •

Incorrect: The meeting must start exactly in time. Correct: The meeting must start exactly on time.

On time = at the planned time; neither late nor early In time = before the last moment; with enough time to spare

90. On the whole and the w hole of Perfect Your Sentences

Page 39

On the whole is used to sum up your opinion of something which is good and bad in parts. For instance, you may say, 'The script of the film was bad, but the story was excellent. On the whole I enjoyed it.' • •

Incorrect: It is a very good film. I liked it on the whole. Correct: It is a very good film. I liked the w hole of it.

91. Par ticiples • •

Incorrect: Having bitten the postman, the farmer decided to shoot the dog. Correct: The dog having bitten the postman, the farmer decided to shoot it.

Here the first sentence means that it was the farmer who bit the postman and not the dog. The participle is a verb-adjective. It should be related to a proper subject of reference. If the subject is lacking or if a wrong subject is used, the whole sentence will be wrong. • • • •

Incorrect: Being a rainy day, day, we didn't go out. Correct: It being a rainy day, day , we didn't go out. Incorrect: Being too costly for him, he could not buy the watch. Correct: The w atch being too costly for him, him , he could not buy it.

92. Positive or comparative? • • • •

Incorrect: He is becoming strong. Correct: He is becoming stronger. Incorrect: She is getting young. Correct: She is getting younger. younger .

The sentence 'He is becoming strong' is of course correct English, but the English language has a special fondness for the comparative adjective, instead of a positive adjective, when growth or change is implied in a sentence. For example when we are talking of a boy's progress in class, we often say 'He ' He is working better now' thinking of a time past when he worked less.


Page 40

93. Past perfect tense • • • • • •

Incorrect: He said that his father died last year. Correct: He said that his father had died last year. Incorrect: The patient died before the doctor arrived. Correct: The patient had died before the doctor arrived. Incorrect: The train left before we reached the station. Correct: The train had left before we reached the station.

The past perfect tense should be used when the time of one past tense verb is more past than that of another.

94. Po ssessive case The use of the possessive case should be confined to the following: 1) Names of living beings and personified objects. Examples are: the minister's bodyguards, the lion's mane, the girl's mother, nature's laws, fortune's favorites etc. 2) A few stereotyped phrases: Examples are: • • • •

The boat's crew At his fingers' ends For goodness' sake For conscience's sake

3) Nouns denoting space or time Examples are: • • •

A day's work A hand's breadth In a year's time

95. Prep ositions We do not use prepositions before a number of common expressions beginning next, last, this , that, one, every, each, some, any, all etc. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 41

• • • • • •

Incorrect: See you on next Sunday. Correct: See you next Sunday. Incorrect: Come on any day you like. Correct: Come any day you like. Incorrect: The party lasted for all night. Correct: The party lasted all night.

96. Present perfect tense The present perfect is a present tense. So when you use the present perfect tense, the action cannot be placed at a point of time in the past. However, a period of time extending up to the time of speaking can be mentioned - for two hours, for three years, in the last two years etc. Adverbs like just, recently, as yet, ever, never, already, today, this morning etc., may also be used. • • • •

• •

Incorrect: I have seen him yesterday. Correct: I sa w him yesterday. Incorrect: We have lived here till 2004. Correct: We lived here till 2004. Incorrect: 'Where is John?' 'He has been to Sydney.' Correct: 'Where is John?' 'He has gone to Sydney.'

'He has been to Sydney' means that sometime in the past he went Sydney and came back. So he knows Sydney; he is not a stranger to that city. 'He has gone to Sydney' means that he is still in Sydney; he hasn't come back yet.

97. Price and Prize The price is what you pay when you buy something. A prize is what you are given if you win a competition. • • • •

Incorrect: What is the prize of that watch? Correct: What is the price of that watch? Incorrect: The boy was given a price. Correct: The boy was given a prize.


Page 42

98. Pronouns A pronoun used as subject should not be separated from its verb if possible. • •

Incorrect: I with some friends went for a walk. Correct: I w ent ent for a walk with some friends.

Agreement w ith antecedent in number, gender and person A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number, gender and person. •

•

•

All passengers were asked to show their tickets. (Here the pronoun ‘their’ agrees with its antecedent passengers in number, gender and person.) Each girl gave h er own version of the story. (Here the pronoun ‘her’ pronoun ‘her’ agrees agrees with its antecedent girl in number, gender and person.) Every m an must bear h is own burden.

99. Say and tell The verb tell is followed by an indirect object without to . • • • •

Incorrect: Tell to me what happened. Correct: Tell me what happened. Incorrect: John told to me about it. Correct: John told me about it.

When used with a that-clause, that-clause , tell takes an indirect object. Sa Say y is used without an indirect object. • • •

Incorrect: She told that she would come. Correct: She told me that she would come. Correct: She said that she would come.

100. Scarcely... Scarcely...w hen It is wrong to use than instead of when of when in these sentences. • •

Incorrect: Scarcely had I reached the station than the train steamed out. Correct: Scarcely had I reached the station when the train steamed out.

When scarcely begins the sentence, the auxiliary h ad must come immediately after it. Perfect Your Sentences

Page 43

• • •

Incorrect: Scarcely I had solved one problem when another cropped up. Correct: Scarcely had I solved one problem when another cropped up. Correct: I had scarcely solved one problem when another cropped up.

101. Search Search and s earch for • • • •

Incorrect: When we searched it we found it. Correct: When we searched for it we found it. Incorrect: I searched him. Correct: I searched for him.

'I searched him' is only correct when it means 'I looked in his pockets' or something similar.

102. Sincerely • • •

Incorrect: Your sincerely... Incorrect: Your's sincerely Correct: Yours sincerely

103. Singular Singular and plu ral nouns ev e r y o n e , e v e r y b o d y , a n y o n e , The pronouns a n o t h e r , a n y t h i n g , e a c h , ev s o m e o n e , s o m e b o d y , n o o n e , n o n e , m u c h , p e r s o n , e i t h e r and n e i t h e r are so m e , singular and should be followed by singular verbs. verbs . The pronouns a l l , so m o st s t , m a n y and p e o p l e are plural and should be followed by plural verbs. • • • • • • • •

Incorrect: Every people know this. Correct: Every Every man / everyone everyone knows this. Incorrect: Everyone in the class have handed in work. Correct: Everyone in the class h as handed in work. Incorrect: Incorrect: Neither of the boys are correct. Correct: Neither of the boys is correct. Incorrect: Each of the boys were given a prize yesterday. Correct: Each of the boys w as given a prize yesterday.

104. Subordinate Subordinate cla use Perfect Your Sentences

Page 44

• • • •

Incorrect: I will call you when the dinner will be ready. Correct: I w ill call call you when the dinner is ready. Incorrect: They will come if you will invite them. Correct: They w ill come come if you invite them.

When the verb in the main clause is in the future tense, the verb in the subordinate clause should be in the present and not in the future.

105. Suggest The verb suggest is used with a that-clause or a gerund (-ing form). It cannot be used with a to-infinitive. • • •

Incorrect: She suggested to consult a doctor. Correct: She suggested consulting a doctor. Correct: She suggested suggested that I (should) consult a doctor.

106. Than and as Object pronouns (me, him, her etc) can be used after as and than, than , especially in an informal style. • • •

She is taller than me. He earns as much as her. She doesn't sing as well as him.

In a formal style, we prefer subject + verb after as and than • • •

She is taller than I am. He earns as much as she does. She doesn't sing as well as I do. do .

Note that a subject form without a verb (e.g. than I) is unusual in this structure in modern English. •

He ran as fast as me. me . OR He ran as fast as I did. did . (More natural than ‘He than ‘He ran as fast as I’ .) .)

107. Thank Thank you and p lease Perfect Your Sentences

Page 45

• •

Incorrect: 'I have a bad headache.' 'Please? Correct: 'I have a bad headache.' 'I 'I beg your pardon.'

To ask people what they have said, we use 'I beg your pardon' (formal) or 'sorry' (informal). ‘Please' (informal). ‘Please' cannot be used with this meaning. • •

Incorrect: 'Have you got a pen I could use?' 'Yes, please.' Correct: 'Have you got a pen I could use?' 'Yes, here you ar e.' e.'

We do not use please when we give things to people. • •

Incorrect: 'Thanks a lot!' 'Please' Correct: 'Thanks a lot!' 'That's OK'

Please is not used as a reply to 'thanks/thank you'. you'. If a reply is necessary, we may say 'Not at all' (rather formal), 'You are welcome', 'Don't mention it', 'That's all right' or 'That's OK' (very informal). informal). • • •

Incorrect: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'No, please.' Correct: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'Yes, please.' Correct: 'Will you have some coffee?' 'No, thank you.'

'No, please' is always wrong. 'Yes, please' and 'No, thank you' are the polite replies when accepting and declining an offer.

108. Told and asked • • • •

Incorrect: I asked my servant to bring water. Correct: I told my servant to bring water. Incorrect: I told the teacher to excuse me. Correct: I asked the teacher to excuse me.

Use 'I t old him t o.. o...' .' only towards a person to whom you have a right to give an order. Use 'I 'I as ked him t o.. o...' .' towards a person of whom you can or want to make a request only.

109. Too and very • •

Incorrect: The story is too interesting. Correct: The story is very interesting.


Page 46

To o means 'more than it ought to be'. It has a negative meaning. It is usually followed by to or f o r . To o should not be used in the general sense of very of very which has a positive meaning. • •

He is to o fat. It is to o hot to go out.

110. Transitive verbs • • • •

Incorrect: Here is my cup; please fill. Correct: Here is my cup; please fill it. Incorrect: I enjoyed when I went to Paris. Correct: I enjoyed myself when myself when I went to Paris.

All transitive verbs (e.g. fill, break, take and bring) must have an expressed object. Some transitive verbs (e.g. give and lend) must have two objects. • •

Incorrect: I asked for my book, but he didn't give me. Correct: I asked for my book, but he didn't give it to me. me . (Here the pronouns it and m e are the objects of the verb give.) give .)

111. Tw o w ords or one The following are written as one word: Nowadays, somehow, anyhow, everybody, into, moreover, cannot, together, today, sometimes, everyone, afterwards, everywhere, nobody, meanwhile, newspaper, outside, already, anything, anyone The following are written as two words: All right, at once, some time, at least, no one, on to

112. Unless and if Unless means ‘if not’ and, not’ and, therefore, it is superfluous to introduce another n o t into the following clause. • •

Incorrect: Unless you do not give the keys of the safe you will be shot. Correct: Unless you give the keys of the safe, you will be shot.


Page 47

•

Correct: I f you f you do not give the keys of the safe, you will be shot.

113. Verbs The verbs enjoy, avoid, miss, postpone and suggest should be used with a gerund, gerund , and not an infinitive.

• • • • • •

Incorrect: She enjoys to sing. Correct: She enjoys singing. Incorrect: She avoids to meet people. Correct: She avoids meeting people. Incorrect: Mother suggested to consult a doctor. Correct: Mother suggested consulting a doctor.

114. -ward and –w ards • •

Incorrect: You can’t make a forwards pass in rugby. Correct: You can’t make a forw ard pass pass in rugby.

The words backward(s), forward(s), upward(s), northward(s) etc., do not have the –s when they are used as adjectives. adjectives . When these words are adverbs, they can be used with or without –s .

115. Well and Good • • • •

Incorrect: He speaks English good. Correct: He speaks English well. Incorrect: She speaks well English. Correct: She speaks good English.

Well is an adverb. Good is an adjective. Adverbs are used to modify verbs. Adjectives are used to modify nouns. In the sentence ‘He sentence ‘He speaks English well’ , the adverb well modifies the verb speaks. Similarly, in the sentence ‘She sentence ‘She speaks good English’ , the adjective good modifies the noun English. • •

Incorrect: She speaks well English. Correct: She speaks English well.


Page 48

Adverbs cannot usually go between the verb and the object.

116. Why not + infinitive Read the following sentence: Why not arrange a party in his honor? This means ‘Why should we not arrange a party in his honor?’ It is a way of suggesting something for other people’s consideration and acceptance. • • • •

Incorrect: Why not you buy now and pay later? Correct: Correct: Wh y not buy now and pay later? Incorrect: Why not we dismiss the fellow? Correct: Why not dismiss the fellow?

This is a very common error which should be carefully avoided. No noun or pronoun should come after why not.

117. Whether and I f •

•

Incorrect: We haven’t settled the question of if we if we should move to a new house. Correct: We haven’t settled the question of whether we should move to a new house.

Only whether is possible after a preposition. • •

Incorrect: They can’t decide if to wait or leave. Correct: They can’t decide w hether hether to w ait ait or leave.

Only whether can be used before to-infinitives.

118. Whose and w ho’s Whose is a possessive word. It is used in questions and relative clauses. Who’s is the contraction of who of who is or who has. • •

Incorrect: Who’s is this coat? Correct: Whose is this coat?


Page 49

• •

Incorrect: Whose is that over there? Correct: Who’s that over there?

119. Will or shall? The distinctions between will and shall are now strictly observed only by precise speakers. Shall is becoming less common especially with the second and third person pronouns. With first person pronouns, however, shall is still being used to indicate the simple future. In conversation people generally use the shortened form ’ll. • •

We’ll have a party tomorrow. I think I’ll send him a letter.

In these sentences, according to strict grammatical rules, one has to use shall. shall . But ’ ll may be the contraction of either shall or will. However, research has shown that most people consider ’l l to be a contraction of will of will,, which proves that in actual usage will has been replacing shall. Instead of using shall with second and third person pronouns to express a command, promise, threat or determination, people often use other verbs and forms of expression. For example, instead of saying ‘You shall go at once’, people often say: • • •

You w ill have have to go at once. You are to go at once. You must go at once.

120. Yes and N o • • •

Incorrect: ‘Aren’t you going out?’ ‘Yes, I’m not.’ Correct: ‘No, ‘No, I’m n ot. ot.’ ’ Correct: ‘Yes, Correct: ‘Yes, I’m.’

Y es is used with affirmative sentences and n o with negative sentences.


Page 50

Perfect Your Sentences

Recommend Documents